HENDERSON, Ky (WEHT) – A mother has been arrested while a father remains at large regarding a baby’s death.

“Thus death was certainly preventable,” says Evansville Police Sergeant Anna Gray.

According to an arrest warrant, Kaytlen Dossett and Taylor Fischer are being charged with multiple neglect of a dependent charges and neglect resulting in death after their 11-month-old baby died after a toxicology report showed multiple drugs, including fentanyl and Xylazine, a powerful sedative in the baby’s system. Police say Xylazine is not normally seen in the Tri-State, but add it is being mixed with other drugs, which is how investigators think the combination got into the baby’s system. The coroner also said the victim showed a presumptive positive for Naloxone.

“The child obviously ingested narcotics, which caused the death. It sounds like it was not only in the house, but it was also easily accessible to the child. So yes, it was 100% preventable,” Sgt. Gray says.

The warrant states at 10:55 p.m. on September 11, Vanderburgh Dispatch received a call to an unresponsive baby in the 200 block of N. Spring Street that had blue lips, and the warrant states the baby died at St. Vincent Hospital after life-saving measures were being used.

The warrant also indicated Dossett admitted to smoking marijuana prior to getting the baby to sleep, and a search warrant of the house turned up several items including:

  • Several pieces of foil with burnt residue
  • One clear plastic corner baggie with residue
  • One digital scale
  • One clear plastic baggie containing brown powder
  • Two foil wrappers, containing a white crystal-like substance (later testing positive for methamphetamine)
  • One bag of a green leafy substance (later testing positive for marijuana)
  • Several brown, dry pieces (later testing positive for psilocybin)
  • One clear bottle with 11 brown capsules
  • Several multi-colored, unlabeled pills
  • Glass smoking pipe with residue
  • One purple container with green leafy substance (later testing positive for synthetic cannabinoid)

“Some of the narcotics were found on the bed, on the couch and on the chairs. One of the substances in a white plastic bag tested positive for fentanyl,” Sgt. Gray says.

Police also say they found a loaded handgun on the bed and one in the dresser.

“Luckily we dud not have a child get a hold of a handgun, but it certainly could have easily happened,” Sgt. Gray says.

Other tests indicated Fischer had multiple drugs in his system including methamphetamine, fentanyl and THC.

Dossett was booked into the Vanderburgh County Jail on October 9 at 2:25 p.m. on a $250,000 bond. EPD confirms Fischer has not been booked and is still at large.

Prosecutor Diana Moers said she can’t comment on this case being it is still under investigation, but she did provide a statement regarding the case.

“Any parent who is struggling—for any reason—with properly caring for their child, including providing a safe home, should reach out for help and resources immediately,” she said. “Persons who fall criminally short of their basic duties to keep infants and children in their care safe and thriving will be shown no mercy by my office.

Police say four children, including the 11 month old child, live in the home. Two are elementary age and were at the home when the baby became unresponsive. Police say they have been placed into foster care. Officials say a fourth child was not in the home at the time.